The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1887-10-19
The New Line Fence.

WuOID uc SpOhG pduScu Ill UuG NORWAY,
with her bare arms twisted into her
calico apron, and regarded the offenders
mildly.
They were struggling through one of
the gaps in the brOken-down fence which
separated Mr.. Longs garden from that
of his neighbor, Alvin Talcott-a pro-
cession of nine, clucking in grooming
way and stepping high. They came on
with composed deliberation, pausing
among the cucumbers with contem-
plative air, skirting the radishes after a
dissatisfied survey, and settling down
at last among the tomatoes with a
chorus of victorious clucks.
Z" 1t amt going to do" said Mr.. Long,
wiping disturbed face with his old red
silk handkerchief. " amt going to
stand It'll"
&C 1t amt likely he's thought of it,"
said his wife, TRANQUILITY.
I" He can't think of nothing but that
pesky croquet business" reioined Mr..
Long, jerking his head toward his neigh
boris yard, from which the sound of
voices and the click of mallets pro-
ceeded.
Oh, laws, Elias!" Mrs. Long be-
gan, in easy remonstrance; but her
husband had seized an old tin dipper
from the porch shelf and was making
for the tomato patch as fast as his sixty
years would permit. There was a wild
cackling and scattering as he threw his
dipper into the midst of the scratching
flock, pushed them unrelentingly to the
farthest possible point and leaned ex-
haustedly against the sunken gate of the
dilapidated fence. 1t was sunken with
the weight of the many friendly chats
held across it since the lOng-ago period
of its erection; chats held at all times
of day and upon all ubjects-politics,
moving machines, fertilizers, sewing
societies, croquet patterns, raised cake
recipes, etc.
Mr. Talcott's croquet-ground was be-
fore him. Mr.. Talcott himself stood
near, leaning the weight of his small
and why person on his mallet-his hat
over one ear, his cheerful, round face
shining with eagerness, his whole atti-
tude expressive of watchful and pro-
found absorption.
Mr.. Long surveyed the scene with dis
pleasure. He had, originally, strongly
disapproved of Mr.. Talcott's croquet
ground. He had not been sure that
croquet was not on a level with
keerds" and gambling; and that a
deacon of the church and member of
the town council should countenance
and encourage such iniquity was sub
ject for grave reflection.
From this-after frequent glimpses
at, and occasional considerations of, the
game over the fence-he had softened
to the opinion that it was waste of
time and pack of foolishness; falling
gradually into the habit, despite his
convictions, of observing it regularly
graduating from the fence to Mr.. Tai
colts doorstep, and thus acquiring
tolerable knowledge of its baleful meth
DDS. He had even been known to
manifest an interest in the game, to
tender advice in crisis, to give his
opinion on disputed point, to join in
applause of good strike.
But he had always considered that
his presence was something of a re-
proof and restraint. Just now, as he
stood frowning down the long, wick
eted ground, nothing could have con-
WINGED him that he had ever retreated
in the least from his primal attitude of
rigorous disapproval.
Mr. Long shifted his position nearer
" You'll have to keep them hens of
yourn to home" he said. They're
spelling my garden jest about as fast as
they can manage it,"
Mr.. Talcott's smiling face hardened.
1t was not the first time his neighbor
had mentioned the hens, though never
hitherto with so much decision.
g don't really know as it's any of
my concern" he said; you can't lest
expect for me to be chasing hens ever
lastingly."
6 don't know but what you better
be chasing hens than wasting time over
this here" responded his neighbor,
surveying the croquet ground with
sternness in his long-featured face.
Mr.. Talcott's small, bright eyes
snapped.
" You hain't no call, as know of, to
give no opinion whatsoever" he re-
torted.
Mr., Long turned his eyes upon his
irate countenance. He was slower to
anger than his neighbor. about
them hens" he said, 81 ruther
guess this line fence better be fixed up;
needs it. They couldn't get in then
unless they should 90 round by the or
chard, and that amt likely"
Il hain't been calculating to lay out
anything on fences jest at present."
said Mr.. Talcott, bracing himself on
his short legs defantly.
Mr.. Longs thin face grew grim.
C You better jest think over about this
here fence" said he, as he turned
stiflly away.
Mrs. Talcott had come out of the
house with little bowl in her hands-a
thin woman, with pleasing remains of
sandy-haired prettiness.
want you to take in some of my
rising to Hannah" she said. They had
known each other by their first names
for some fifty years.
When Mrs. Long opened the kitchen
door at six O'Clock the next morning
and stood looking out at the early
August day in the moment before fried
pork had sizzed itself quite brown and
the coffee came to boil, her faculties
concentrated themselves upon an I'M
expected circumstance just beneath
her eyes.
Elias" she said, she's tearing
down the line fence. He's got Job
Dryer helping him." She was devoid
of suspicious concerning the fact; her
voice was merely inquiring.
L., n 10 a